By Steve Guggenheim
He woke up Saturday morning ready for his Bar Mitzvah, went to Beth El Synagogue in East Windsor, and waited for his turn to go to the Bima, or altar, to recite his Haftarah, a section from the bible.
He chanted it beautifully. Then, like every person having a Bar or Bat (for women) Mitzvah, he gave a speech. Only this speech was different. Instead of thanking his parents at the end he thanked his wife, children and grandchildren.
This was not just any Bar Mitzvah, the prayers and celebration when a Jewish youth turns 13 and becomes an adult in the eyes of the religion. This was 88-year old Andy Klein. His first Bar Mitzvah was May 9, 1942, in the midst of World War II.
But why do a Bar Mitzvah now? Two years ago his daughter Laurie Bershad of West Windsor asked what his Haftarah was. He didn’t remember but she pursued the question and found out what section of the bible he recited 75 years ago. Laurie then suggested he relearn it and do it at the synagogue where they are both members. Last June he agreed. The date was set and now he was fully committed.
Andy said once he set his mind to do it he was going to do it properly. He saw it as a challenge as a human being.
Synagogue member Larry Epstein of East Windsor was able to find a tape so he could relearn the Haftarah. Andy, the 88-year old Bar Mitzvah, then set about practicing. He said it took about a year of hard work to get everything right. His biggest challenge was learning to say the Hebrew words properly since there are no vowel sounds in the Torah. Then he had to get the melody down.
His first Bar Mitzvah started out as a traumatic event. He had trouble with two words and because of that his Hebrew teacher slapped him. He came home crying and told his mother. They then talked to the rabbi who found him a different teacher. Andy says those two words are probably what motivated him to do the Haftarah a second time, at the age of 88. When he came across those two words this time, Ani and Adonoi, he smiled and knew he had nailed this Haftarah. He says his parents would have been incredibly proud.
After the Haftarah he showed Beth El Rabbi Jay Kornsgold the speech he gave those 75 years ago. He hadn’t planned on reading it but the rabbi, and Cantor Larry Brandspiegel, said go ahead. He made the changes thanking his family.
Klein says he was so relaxed giving the speech. Rabbi Kornsgold says that really set the tone for the day. The rabbi, who along with his family and congregation were celebrating the upcoming nuptials for his eldest child Noam, said the Aufruf ceremony for his son, along with a senior doing his Bar Mitzvah prayers, provided a nice balance between young and old. He said they were happy to celebrate with the Klein family. The 300 people in attendance agreed.
Since the event he and the rabbi have received numerous compliments. Member Lita Marks says the congregation was so happy to celebrate the joyous day with the Kornsgold family, but also for the hope and joy of seeing one of the senior members of the community, who looked as spry as could be, display such energy. She said that was an inspiration to us all.
